Halifax’s best coffee shops
Halifax has lots of great coffee shops. Your favourite java place is probably the one in your neighbourhood, where they know your name and what you drink (half-caf no-foam non-fat vanilla soy latte, right?). Maybe you have a go-to shop where you meet up with friends or hold meetings. Or maybe you are a coffee snob and only the best will do!
Java Blend Coffee Roasters
6027 North St, Halifax, NS B3K 1N9At Java Blend, the coffee is roasted on site after a careful process of selecting the best beans and the best roast for each type. You can even walk through the roastery itself (you’ll have to if you make a trip to the bathroom!). Java Blend works closely with trusted suppliers and sells both fair-trade organic and micro-lot coffee. This coffee shop is a quintessential north end hang out, but you’ll find their coffee in restaurants around the city and you can grab a cup at the Seaport Market.
Pavia Gallery Espresso Bar and Cafe
995 Herring Cove Rd, Herring Cove, NS B3V 1H6The original Pavia Gallery, located in Herring Cove, is modelled after an Italian-style espresso bar. This licensed café has an on-site bakery, art gallery and weekend waffles! Now, Pavia has a downtown presence at the brand new Halifax Public Library. There are actually two cafés in the library: One on the ground level and one on the top floor with lots of natural light and a great city view. The drip coffee at Pavia is locally roasted, but they import their espresso from a micro-roastery in Florence. The menu features Panini, soups and baked goods with a locally sourced emphasis.
Just Us Cafe
5896 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax, NS B3H 0A6Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-op was born of a passion for social justice in Latin America, and is now a coffee mainstay in Nova Scotia, incorporating employee ownership and fair trade practices. There are two Halifax locations: King’s Wharf (Dartmouth) and Spring Garden Road, but the head office is located in the Annapolis Valley, where they have their roastery, fair trade museum and chocolate workshop (they even make their own mocha and hot chocolate mix)! Cold brew is available seasonally and, if you’re looking for a really stellar free pour, this is the place.
Smiling Goat Cafe
1475 Lower Water Unit 12, Halifax, NS B3J 3Z2The Smiling Goat is known to make some of the best coffee in the city! They use a Clover (vacuum French press) at their South Park location and a Trifecta (total immersion/air injection) at their Bishop’s Landing location. The house espresso is roasted by Java Blend, and there is always a feature espresso. The Smiling Goat offers hard-to-find drinks, such as café Romano and flat whites. The Bishop’s Landing location is a larger, busier version of the original South Park location. It is licensed and offers a fuller menu.
The Nook on Gottingen
2118 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS B3K 0C5Coffee, tea, food, intoxicants - that’s The Nook! This is a cozy little spot on Gottingen Street with various seating options, including several “nooks,” where you can sit with a group of friends. A great place to work or to socialize, The Nook has Propeller beer on tap and Laughing Whale coffee on drip. There are also hot and cold cocktails, teas and “potions.” Whether you are detoxing, have the flu or a hangover, there is a potion for you. The menu has a range of sandwiches, salads and snacks (nachos!) with lots of vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Humani -T Cafe
5755 Young St, Halifax, NS B3K 1Z9Humani-T Café is a health store/café located in the Hydrostone district of Halifax. There is also a newer downtown location (South Park) that is more of a straight up café and open later (11 p.m.). They both sell an array of pastries and cakes, and their gelato is very popular. Drip coffee and creative espresso-based drinks are available, as well as smoothies and teas. Humani-T makes their own cold brew and their own Chai spice blend. Also available are matcha lattes, yerba lattes and inka (chicory coffee substitute).
Lion & Bright
2530 Agricola St, Halifax, NS B3K 4C5Lion & Bright is a café by day, wine bar by night. Located on a very hip stretch of Agricola Street, you can expect this place to be busy with all sorts of north end types. Lion & Bright is connected to Local Source Market, which supplies them with all of their food. They are known for craft beer, tacos, grilled cheese sandwiches and charcuterie. Whether you need a place to work, socialize, dine or just grab a coffee to go – Lion & Bright has you covered.
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